Kids tend to fall on a daily basis. Taking a tumble on your bicycle? Not unusual. Getting tripped up while sprinting across the yard. Happens all of the time. Kids are pretty limber so, no big deal. They rebound very easily.
The same can’t be said as you age. Falling becomes more and more of a worry as you get older. In part, that’s because your bones tend to break more easily (and heal more slowly). Older individuals tend to spend more time lying on the floor in pain because they have a more difficult time getting back up. Because of this, falls are the number one injury-related cause of death in individuals over 65.
That’s why tools and devices that can minimize falls are always being sought out by healthcare professionals. New research appears to suggest that we may have discovered one such device: hearing aids.
Can hearing loss lead to falls?
In order to determine why hearing aids can help avert falls, it helps to ask a relevant question: is it feasible that hearing loss can increase your risk of having a fall? In some situations, it seems that the answer is a strong affirmative.
So you have to ask yourself, why would the risk of falling be increased by hearing loss?
That link isn’t really that intuitive. After all, hearing loss doesn’t directly impact your ability to move or see. But this sort of direct impact on your mobility, and an elevated danger of falling, can be a result of some hearing loss symptoms. Here are a few of those symptoms:
- You have less situational awareness: You might not be able to hear the sound of your neighbor’s footsteps, the dog barking next door, or an oncoming vehicle when you have untreated hearing loss. In other words, your situational awareness might be significantly affected. Can you become clumsy like this due to hearing loss? Well, kind of, loss of situational awareness can make day-to-day tasks a little more hazardous. And that means you might be a little bit more likely to unintentionally stumble into something, and have a tumble.
- You can’t hear high-frequency sounds: You know how when you go into an auditorium, you immediately detect that you’re in a huge venue, even if your eyes are closed? Or when you jump into a car and you immediately know you’re in close quarters? That’s because your ears are utilizing high-frequency sounds to help you “echolocate,” more or less. You will lose the ability to quickly make those judgment calls when hearing loss causes you to lose those high-pitched tones. Loss of situational awareness and disorientation can be the consequences.
- Exhaustion: Your brain is working extra hard and you’re always straining when you have neglected hearing loss. Your brain will be continuously tired as a result. An exhausted brain is less likely to notice that obstacle in your path, and, as a consequence, you might end up tripping and falling over something that an alert brain would have noticed.
- Depression: Untreated hearing loss can lead to social solitude and depression (not to mention an increased danger of dementia). You are likely to stay home a lot more when you’re socially isolated, and tripping dangers will be all around without anyone to help you.
- Loss of balance: How does hearing loss impact your balance? Well, your inner ear is incredibly important to your total equilibrium. So you might find yourself dizzy, experience vertigo, and lose your balance when hearing loss impacts your inner ear. Because of this, you could fall down more frequently.
Age is also a consideration when it comes to hearing loss-associated falls. As you age, you’re more likely to experience permanent and progressive hearing loss. At the same time, you’re more likely to take a tumble. As a result, when you get older, falls are more likely to have severe repercussions.
How can hearing aids help minimize falls?
It makes sense that hearing aids would be part of the remedy when hearing loss is the issue. And this is being confirmed by new research. Your danger of falling could be decreased by as much as 50% according to one study.
In the past, these numbers (and the relationship between hearing aids and staying on your feet) were a little less clear. In part, that’s because not everyone wears their hearing aids all of the time. As a consequence, falls among “hearing aid users” were often inconclusive. This wasn’t because the hearing aids weren’t working, it was because individuals weren’t using them.
The approach of this study was carried out differently and maybe more effectively. Individuals who wore their hearing aids now and then were segregated from people who wore them all of the time.
So why does wearing your hearing aids help you avoid falls? They keep you less exhausted, more focused, and generally more alert. It also helps that you have added situational awareness. In addition, many hearing aids come with safety features designed to activate in the case of a fall. Help will come quicker this way.
Regularly using your hearing aids is the trick here.
Invest in your fall prevention devices today
You will be able to remain close to your loved ones if you use hearing aids, not to mention catch up with friends.
They can also help you remain on your feet, literally!
Make an appointment with us right away if you want to learn more about how your quality of life can be improved.